Author’s POVHannah stared at the message, her heart pounding in her chest. “I know where Lily is.” Those words shattered everything around her. Her hand shook as she held the phone. It couldn’t be real, could it? After all this time, someone finally knew where her sister was. The one person who ruined her life. The one that she had been trying to forget, but couldn’t. Nicolas noticed her change in expression. His eyes narrowed, “What’s wrong?” He asked, his tone laced with suspicion. Immediately, Hannah’s mind raced, but she couldn’t tell him, not yet. If Nicolas found out someone knew where Lily was, he would certainly tell it to Ethan and things could spiral out of control faster than she could handle. But she needed answers. She needed revenge. “Nothing,” Hannah said quickly, slipping her phone back into her pocket slowly.“Just a reminder about something.”Nicolas didn’t seem to buy it, but before he could say anything, the two men from the SUV reached them. They looked as col
Author’s POVUpon hearing this, Hannah wanted to roll her eyes in disgust but fought back the urge to. She wanted to keep herself composed, but could not hold back the rage brewing in her, “Safe? You think you are keeping me safe?”“You practically had me kidnapped.”Seeing her resentment, Ethan's lips curled into a cold smirk. “You should be thanking me. I saved you.”“You were walking into a trap with Wolfe. His right-hand man, Dillon would have handed you over to Wolfe without hesitation. I ensured you stayed out of harm’s way and this is the thanks I get?” Ethan said and scoffed dryly. “Out of harm’s way? Or under your control?” Hannah shot back irritably. She stepped a bit closer, her eyes scanning around the room. She was driven to make this marriage work, but she also knew if she was to be Ethan’s wife and have any power in this relationship, she would have to stand up slowly against her new husband and demand more respect for herself.“You don’t care about my safety, Ethan.
Author’s POV“Conditions?” Ethan asked, a little surprised, his eyes narrowing at Hannah’s boldness. He could not help but wonder where her sudden boldness had come from. He had expected her to bend, to follow his lead, not make demands of her own. This was absurd. Hannah seemed not as weak or easily controlled as he thought.Staring at her now, his fingers itch in irritation. He was used to being in charge, having the final say in everything, whether in his personal life or business-related, but here Hannah was, his new wife, standing her ground, and it incensed him.Hannah folded her arms with a stern look seeing how nonchalant he seemed about her request. “You’re hardly in a position to make demands, Hannah,” Ethan said with a low intimidating growl.At this moment, Hannah’s heart was pounding, but she wouldn’t let him see her fear. She knew if she was going to survive in Ethan’s world and not have him disregard her as just some girl he’s married to, she’d have to play her cards c
Author’s POV“There’s one more thing,” Hannah said.Ethan’s smirk quickly faded away. “What now?” He asked.“If I’m marrying you, I’m going to need protection and access to your family’s resources.”Ethan almost busted in laughter as he heard her words.“What do you think this is? That you’re now a part of the family just because you’re marrying into it.” Ethan said and scoffed dryly.“That’s the deal, Ethan. Either you give me access to what I want or you can go find a wife somewhere else.” Hannah said sternly.Ethan bit his lip in agitation, sighed heavily, and gave in.“Alright then. You can have it.” Ethan said hesitantly.Hannah smiled victoriously, picked up the pen and as she tried to sign, her heart pounded in her chest. She glanced at Ethan one last time, his eyes hard and cold, waiting for her to comply, as if his life depended on it.Hannah heaved a tired sigh and in that moment, she muttered silently, “I will find you Lily, no matter what. I will make you pay for what you
Author’s POVHannah’s steps quickened as she moved down the long corridor, and then suddenly stopped, realizing she didn’t know where she was going.Ethan had instructed her to stay in his mansion tonight and then have her things packed the next day, to ensure her safety.Much against her will, she finally gave in to his instruction, but now she realized she didn’t even know which room she was supposed to stay.“Let me show you to your room,” Reginald said,- approaching her with slow measured steps.He stopped in front of Hannah and a warm smile appeared on his face,“This way, Ms. Young.” He said and walked away, leading her to her room.Hannah heaved a tired sigh and then followed him.Her heart was still pounding in her chest as she followed him, the words from the mysterious text still echoing in her mind. “Midnight, the old pier. Come alone.”Hannah was unsettled. All she wanted was to get to her room and then sneak out before midnight, but with Ethan’s suspicions and watchful ey
Author’s POVThe possessiveness in Ethan’s voice made her stomach turn, but she swallowed down her disgust and nodded in response.“I understand,” she said softly, her fingers trailing down his arm in what he hoped was a reassuring gesture.Ethan let out a slow breath, his grip on her wrist loosening slightly. He stared at her for some time and then muttered softly, “Good. I expect you to be ready for tomorrow’s event. I need you to not embarrass me or do anything stupid.”Hannah nodded, forcing herself to meet his gaze, “Of course, Ethan.”With that, he slowly released her hand and stepped back, his cold demeanor slipping back into place, “Get some rest.” He said in a tone that seemed more authoritative than concerning, then turned and walked down the hall, his footsteps echoing as he walked away.As soon as he was completely out of sight, Hannah let out a relieved breath, her hand trembling as she rubbed her wrist where his fingers had gripped her.She couldn’t let him control her l
Author’s POVHannah’s breath hitched, her body frozen in place as the figure’s words played in her mind. She felt every instinct telling her to run, but her legs refused to move. She couldn’t, not without information about Lily. It was after all the only reason she came out here tonight.“What do you mean?” She demanded, her voice although shaky, she was determined, trying to hide the fear surging through her body.“Where is Lily? Tell me!”The figure’s grip tightened for a moment, and then released her and took a step back. The figure chuckled ominously for some time in a way that only irritated Hannah more.“It’s quite ironic that you’ve been searching the whole world for her and she has been closer than you think the whole time.”Immediately Hannah heard this, her eyes widened in surprise.‘Lily is close?’ She thought to herself, finding it hard to believe.She quickly searched her purse for her phone, fumbling with it to find her way out of the Pier. Clearly, she had wasted her t
Author’s POVThe figure took a step back, seeing how unsettled she was. “Why?!” Hannah yelled, and a dark sinister smile appeared beneath the shadow of the hood.“Why?” He repeated.“Because dear Hannah, this is just the beginning. You thought marrying Ethan was the solution to your problems, but it’s only led you into more danger.”“He’s not the man you think he is.” Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps cut through the air, startling both Hannah and the mysterious figure.Hannah quickly shifted her gaze toward the direction of the footsteps, but before she could turn back, the figure had disappeared into the shadows, just as a pair of headlights illuminated the Pier.Scanning her eyes in confusion, Hannah turned to see a black car pulling up slowly. Her pulse quickened as she glanced at the car, unsure of who was behind the wheel. Was it Ethan? Did he follow her? Or was it someone else entirely? These questions filled her mind as she cautiously walked toward the car, her h
Author’s POVThe air in the room was heavy, as Lily stared at the phone in Hannah’s hand, her fingers trembling. She didn’t want to answer. She didn’t want to hear his voice again. But Hannah wasn’t giving her a choice. Slowly, she grabbed the phone and brought it to her ear. “H-Hello?” she stammered, her voice barely audible. There was a brief silence on the other end for a moment, and then a calm yet cold voice spoke. “Lily,” the man said softly, his tone dripping with satisfaction. “Did you really think you could hide from me forever?” Lily’s breath caught in her throat. She tried to speak but couldn’t form words. Her throat felt dry, and her heart raced. “Wh-what do you want?” She stuttered.The man laughed bitterly. “What I’ve always wanted, Lily,” he said. “The money you stole from me.” “I don’t have it,” Lily said quickly, her voice trembling. “I don’t have your money anymore.” The man’s tone hardened. “Well, that’s unfortunate,” he said. “Alfred won’t like hearing t
Author’s POVHannah folded her arms, watching Lily closely. She could not imagine that she had spent years feeling so little since Lily took her boyfriend from her, but now looking at her now, all she could see was a small and uncertain girl who had no clue what she was doing. Hannah sighed heavily, the tension thick between them. “Well?” She asked, her voice sharp. “What are you doing here?”Lily hesitated, her eyes darting to the ground. It was as though she was struggling to find the right words or anything to say, but still, the words were unable to form. Frustrated, Hannah, turned on her heel to walk away.“Wait!” Lily’s voice broke through the quiet, her ton tinged with desperation and fear. “I’m here because of you.”Hannah froze mid-step, and slowly turned back, her face unreadable but her eyes hinting with curiousity. “What do you mean, ‘because of me?’” Lily moved uncomfortably, looking anywhere but at Hannah. She opened her mouth to speak, but before any words could come
Author’s POVHannah froze, the familiar voice sending a chill down her spine. She clenched her fist, recognizing it immediately.Slowly, she turned around, already aware of who it was, but still her heart dropped when she saw her.It was Lily.Hannah’s breath caught, and her expression twisted with shock and anger. Every memory of betrayal—her father’s death, Lily’s theft, and the wreckage she had left behind rushed to the surface. It was as if time had stopped, and all she could see now was the woman who had ruined everything.Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, but the hurt was so deep that she couldn’t move. For a moment, she wanted to lunge at her, she had spent years thinking about what she’d do when this moment finally came. Would she fight her? Make her feel even a fraction of the pain she had caused? Would she immediately turn her over to Alfred Wolfe and every other enemy Lily had made along the way?The thoughts rushed at her, tempting, but she remained rooted in place,
Author’s POVEthan’s eyes widened when he heard Lily’s name and for a moment he seemed at a loss for words. “Lily?” he repeated, his voice soft with disbelief.“Yes, Lily,” Hannah spat.“Was I just her replacement? Someone to fill the void she left behind?”Ethan stepped closer, his face filled with confusion and a loss for words. He knew this day would come, but he didn't want to have to deal with this here. The crowd were still waiting for them, and he couldn't afford anything to seem wrong between them,“Hannah, where is this coming from? Lily was—”“Don’t,” Hannah interrupted, holding up a hand. Her voice was firm, though her heart felt like it was being ripped apart. “Don’t tell me she didn’t mean anything. Don’t insult me like that.”Ethan’s jaw tightened. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”“Oh, don’t I?” she shot back, her voice rising. “You think I don’t see it? Every time you look at me, it’s like you’re looking at someone else. Someone who isn’t here anymore. I’
Author's POVHannah’s heart raced as Liam’s name was announced. The revelation felt like a slap to her face. She had worked with Liam for more than two years and never for once sensed that he was the heir of the Eunuch family.At this point, everything she knew felt like a lie. Her breath hitched, and her head spun as she stared at him. How could this be? The man she had once worked with in the nightclub was now revealed as one of the most powerful figures in the city. Meanwhile, Ethan froze on the stage, still staring at Liam in disbelief, his face pale and his jaw tight, his shock mirroring her own. Hannah tried to wrap her head around this. Tonight was quickly becoming more than she could comprehend, but before she could even process the shock, her phone buzzed in her hand. Her stomach tightened as she glanced down at the screen. It was a message from Grace. She sensed what this was about. Grace had informed her earlier that she was closing in on a lead about Ethan, and would
Author’s POVThe hallway speakers suddenly sounded, breaking the festive atmosphere in the room.Curious to find out what was going on, Hannah approached Ethan hastily with a glass of wine and handed it to him, her face filled with confusion.At this time, a middle aged man strode towards the stage with a glass of wine in his hand,“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for showing up tonight. I must say you all look very lovely. Tonight is the beginning of a very important partnership, one that will change the future of two of the biggest companies in the country.”“With that, please join me as I welcome the man who made all of this possible to the stage to tell us briefly about what they have in future for us. I believe most of us here already know him.” As he spoke, the reporters among the crowd started looking around for Ethan, and just then, the announcers voice went off again,“Please welcome Ethan Ford to the stage.” As soon as Ethan’s name was announced, the crowd started applaudin
Author’s POV“Chairman Eunuch?” Ethan asked, seeking clarification. The chauffeur looked a little puzzled, but answered, “Yes, he’s excited to meet with you.”Ethan nodded, thinking it was Liam’s father. Finally, he wouldn’t have to deal with Liam anymore, he thought.The chauffeur opened the car door and after they entered, drove to the country club.The Eunuchs owned one of the largest real estate enterprises in the country and this country cafe was the largest in the country with a large reception and entertainment hall for events.After a short drive, Ethan and Hannah arrived at the venue and right from the entrance, they could tell this was a large event.The reception hall was luxuriously decorated, and outside stood a live media coverage. However, when Hannah saw this, her nerves felt like they were set on fire. Ethan noticed the anxious look on her face and gently held her hand, “It’s going to be okay. I’ll be right there with you the whole time.” He said in a calm tone.Stra
Author’s POVHannah's heart raced as she stared at Ethan, her thoughts drifting away. His large arms and ripped back left her in a trance, and slowly as if in a trance, she approached him.Ethan suddenly turned around hearing her footsteps, “Hannah.” He blurted in shock, his face flushing with humiliation.He quickly picked up his shirt and threw it on, “What are you doing here?”“I-uh…” Hannah stammered, her eyes still glued to his toned packs and rounded chest.“I came to check in on you.” She finally said.Ethan quickly dressed up, “I’ll be out in a minute.” He said dismissively.Hannah remained quiet for a while and then replied, “Right. I guess I’ll see you out there.” She turned to leave but then suddenly stopped at the door, turning back. She could not tell what came over her, but everything in her fought the urge to forget the party and throw herself on him right now. And for the first time, the thought of it did not make her uncomfortable. Ethan was buttoning his shirt w
Author’s POV“What is a letter doing here?” Hannah wondered, still staring at the letter curiously. After a while, she approached the dress, gently picked it up, and observed the intricate designs, and then her gaze shifted back to the letter. Hannah heaved a deep sigh, glancing at the door. At first, she thought it was Ethan, but they shared a room and Hannah could not imagine what it was he had to say that he just couldn’t say to her. Slowly, she picked up the letter and tore open the seal. However, as soon as she noticed who it was from, she froze in shock and the letter fell right out of her hands. Without thinking, Hannah turned and ran out of the room into the hallway, scanning her eyes around hoping to find the waitress from before, but she was too late, she was already gone. After some more time searching the hallways and trying to describe the waitress from earlier even though she had barely gotten a good look at her, Hannah finally gave up and returned to her room.She pace